Published: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 08:39 PM.

NICEVILLE – On a roster full of talented basketball players from across the country, one local standout is making himself feel right at home at Northwest Florida State College.

That’s because Shykeem Jackson is home.

At first glance, Jackson, a sophomore shooting guard that does a little bit of everything, might look out of place on a roster stocked with players from places like Atlanta and Memphis in the South; Milwaukee and Indianapolis in the Midwest; and Philadelphia and The Bronx in the Northeast. But to NWF State head coach Steve Forbes, the Crestview native is the perfect fit.

“Every time he comes in the game, he impacts it in a positive way,” said Forbes of the 2011 Crestview graduate who is the only Florida native on the roster for the No. 10 Raiders. “We are very fortunate to have him. He just does so many little things, makes so many winning plays…that it’s impossible to keep him out of the lineup.”

When he hears his coach’s words, Jackson can’t help but smile. After all, he’s just doing what comes naturally.

“I don’t know what it is, I’ve just always played this way,” said Jackson of his defense-first, hustle-after-every-loose-ball mentality. “This is just how I play ball. It really has worked for me here.”

It has definitely worked, as the 5-foot-11 guard has carved out a niche as the Raiders’ defensive stopper and sparkplug off the bench. While his minutes aren’t guaranteed every game, he makes them count when they come, as evidenced by his performance in NWF State’s 10-point win over Shelton State Wednesday night. Jackson played just four minutes in the first half, but in those four minutes he forced two turnovers defensively while adding a three-pointer and two offensive rebounds on the other end.

“That’s just him,” said Forbes. “When he comes in, he does things that matter. He’s the ultimate glue guy. He’s one of the best practice player we’ve got, and his teammates all love him and respect him.”

And to think Jackson almost never made it to NWF State.

‘I knew who he was’
After a four-year career at Crestview High, Jackson found himself without a destination in the summer of 2011. He was sure he wanted to go to college, and he was sure that he wanted to continue playing basketball, but he wasn’t sure how the two were going to come together.

That’s when a chance meeting changed his future.

“I had taken the job in June and my family got down here in August,” said Forbes. “My son got a call from coach Strutchen at Niceville to come out for open gym at the high school, and I tagged along. I got there and I saw this kid. He was out there, playing hard, making shots…He looked like my type of guy.

“So I asked coach Strutchen ‘Who is this kid?’

“He told me it was Shykeem Jackson. I asked where he was going to play at and it turned out he wasn’t going anywhere. So I brought him and his family in and offered him a chance to walk-on.”

Jackson, whose family still lives in Crestview, jumped at the chance to walk on with the Raiders, meaning he could play on the team but he was not given a scholarship. That lasted one semester.

“He got here and was just unbelievable,” said Forbes. “Players loved him, coaches loved him. So we got through the first semester and a scholarship opened up. We gave it to him, and he hasn’t looked back.”

For Jackson, both the original meeting with Forbes and the scholarship offer have been a dream come true.

“I just want to play basketball,” said Jackson. “At that first pickup game, I knew who he was but didn’t really know. I knew he was going to be there, but didn’t notice him. So when I met him and he gave me the chance to be on the team, I didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve been playing hard ever since.”

Tonight, the Raiders and Jackson will enter the most important stretch of his sophomore campaign as they travel to Gulf Coast to open the 12-game conference slate. For Forbes, that means plenty of tight games and crucial moments - moments that will call for a player like Jackson.

“I trust him,” said Forbes. “I have complete faith in him to get the job done. I know that every time he goes in there, he’s going to defend and rebound. If he scores, he scores. But overall, I trust that he’s going to do everything for the good of the team.”

Jackson, meanwhile, is just enjoying the chance to make such important contributions on a national championship contender. And he’s enjoying the fact that he can do it so close to home.

“I see my teammates sometimes looking around and telling me how much they wish they could go home just for a little while,” said Jackson. “That makes me feel lucky, because I can. I can go home and see my family in 10 minutes. And they get to see me play.

“It’s pretty special.”

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NICEVILLE – On a roster full of talented basketball players from across the country, one local standout is making himself feel right at home at Northwest Florida State College.

That’s because Shykeem Jackson is home.

At first glance, Jackson, a sophomore shooting guard that does a little bit of everything, might look out of place on a roster stocked with players from places like Atlanta and Memphis in the South; Milwaukee and Indianapolis in the Midwest; and Philadelphia and The Bronx in the Northeast. But to NWF State head coach Steve Forbes, the Crestview native is the perfect fit.

“Every time he comes in the game, he impacts it in a positive way,” said Forbes of the 2011 Crestview graduate who is the only Florida native on the roster for the No. 10 Raiders. “We are very fortunate to have him. He just does so many little things, makes so many winning plays…that it’s impossible to keep him out of the lineup.”

When he hears his coach’s words, Jackson can’t help but smile. After all, he’s just doing what comes naturally.

“I don’t know what it is, I’ve just always played this way,” said Jackson of his defense-first, hustle-after-every-loose-ball mentality. “This is just how I play ball. It really has worked for me here.”

It has definitely worked, as the 5-foot-11 guard has carved out a niche as the Raiders’ defensive stopper and sparkplug off the bench. While his minutes aren’t guaranteed every game, he makes them count when they come, as evidenced by his performance in NWF State’s 10-point win over Shelton State Wednesday night. Jackson played just four minutes in the first half, but in those four minutes he forced two turnovers defensively while adding a three-pointer and two offensive rebounds on the other end.

“That’s just him,” said Forbes. “When he comes in, he does things that matter. He’s the ultimate glue guy. He’s one of the best practice player we’ve got, and his teammates all love him and respect him.”

And to think Jackson almost never made it to NWF State.

‘I knew who he was’
After a four-year career at Crestview High, Jackson found himself without a destination in the summer of 2011. He was sure he wanted to go to college, and he was sure that he wanted to continue playing basketball, but he wasn’t sure how the two were going to come together.

That’s when a chance meeting changed his future.

“I had taken the job in June and my family got down here in August,” said Forbes. “My son got a call from coach Strutchen at Niceville to come out for open gym at the high school, and I tagged along. I got there and I saw this kid. He was out there, playing hard, making shots…He looked like my type of guy.

“So I asked coach Strutchen ‘Who is this kid?’

“He told me it was Shykeem Jackson. I asked where he was going to play at and it turned out he wasn’t going anywhere. So I brought him and his family in and offered him a chance to walk-on.”

Jackson, whose family still lives in Crestview, jumped at the chance to walk on with the Raiders, meaning he could play on the team but he was not given a scholarship. That lasted one semester.

“He got here and was just unbelievable,” said Forbes. “Players loved him, coaches loved him. So we got through the first semester and a scholarship opened up. We gave it to him, and he hasn’t looked back.”

For Jackson, both the original meeting with Forbes and the scholarship offer have been a dream come true.

“I just want to play basketball,” said Jackson. “At that first pickup game, I knew who he was but didn’t really know. I knew he was going to be there, but didn’t notice him. So when I met him and he gave me the chance to be on the team, I didn’t hesitate.

“I’ve been playing hard ever since.”

Tonight, the Raiders and Jackson will enter the most important stretch of his sophomore campaign as they travel to Gulf Coast to open the 12-game conference slate. For Forbes, that means plenty of tight games and crucial moments - moments that will call for a player like Jackson.

“I trust him,” said Forbes. “I have complete faith in him to get the job done. I know that every time he goes in there, he’s going to defend and rebound. If he scores, he scores. But overall, I trust that he’s going to do everything for the good of the team.”

Jackson, meanwhile, is just enjoying the chance to make such important contributions on a national championship contender. And he’s enjoying the fact that he can do it so close to home.

“I see my teammates sometimes looking around and telling me how much they wish they could go home just for a little while,” said Jackson. “That makes me feel lucky, because I can. I can go home and see my family in 10 minutes. And they get to see me play.